Морфологія (Jan 2010)
Histochemical, lectinhistochemical and immunohistochemical methods in embryological heart researches
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to summarize our results of histochemical, lectinhistochemical and immunohistochemical methods for embryonic heart research on chick, mouse and rat as well as human embryo. The alcyan blue staining after Stidman proved useful in identifying populations of neural crest cells within the mesenchymal structures of the heart. McManus staining revealed areas of the extracellular matrix in parts of heart which undergo active transformation. Lectins WGA, STA, RCA, which intensively stained vascular endothelium and endocardium, were also the labels for dying cells. VAA revealed apoptotic cells only, SNA - endocardium, endothelium, mesenchyme cells of the large vessels, PFA - endothe-lium, endocardium. PSA, LCA showed cone-shaped pattern in the wall of pulmonary trunk and aorta of human embryo dur-ing 8-11 weeks. WGA staining was heteromorphic in endothelium of embryonic human heart at 8-12 weeks. The more in-tense reaction was typical in endothelium covering the ventricular and atria walls, as well as the endocardium above trabecu-lae and papillary muscles of the ventricles. WGA staining in endothelium was practically absent in the area of chordae tendi-neae during this period. We suggest that the value of immunohistochemical and lectinhistochemical methods in identifying the endothelium and apoptotic cells is comparable.
